Preconference Workshops

Lunch is included with all preconference workshops.

Heather Johnston Welliver, Associate Director, Academic Support and Enrichment - Denison University

Jennifer Grube Vestal, Associate Dean of Students, Director of Academic Support and Enrichment - Denison University

Spend the morning "sophomore exploring" the developmental needs of sophomore students and take tangible ideas for programming and advising back to your campus. This workshop will use student development theory (Schaller, M.A., 2005) to develop a profile of sophomore students. Presenters will build upon this by presenting additional research that addresses the multiple identities layering the sophomore experience. Participants will examine case studies, review sample resource guides, and identify exemplar sophomore programs targeting academic advising, career development, residential experiences, off campus study, and campus engagement/leadership. With the awareness that institutions often lack funding for new initiatives, attendees will review their campuses' existing programs/services and develop marketing strategies to showcase existing sophomore experience programs or reframe current services in order to better address sophomore needs.

W-2 Proving and Improving: Assessment of Students in Transition
Saturday, October 19, 2013 <> 8:00 am - 12:00 noon <> $135

Jennifer R. Keup, Director, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition - University of South Carolina

In an era of declining resources and increasing accountability, assessment has never been more important to student success initiatives than it is today. Assessment activities can be an important driver for change, serve as a foundation for strategic planning, and inform efforts for students' transition into and through higher education. This session will review many of the basic tenets of high-quality assessment and focus on the challenges and opportunities with respect to the assessment of students in transition and the programs created to support their success. More specifically, this session will provide an overview of assessment structures and methods; discuss the development of learning outcomes; explore instruments used to assess student learning, experiences, satisfaction, and change; and focus on value-added models and tracking techniques that are critical to the assessment of students in transition.

W-3 Partnerships101: What Two- and Four-Year Colleges can do Together to Support First-Year Students
Saturday, October 19, 2013 <> 8:00 am - 12:00 noon <> $135

Álvaro Marmolejo Davis, Coordinator, Community College Connection Program - St. Cloud State University

Stacy Griffey, Enrollment Specialist, Department of Liberal Arts - St. Cloud Technical and Community College

Katie Partin, Coordinator, Office of First-Year Initiatives - University of Louisville

Jason Tetzloff, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences - St. Cloud Technical and Community College

This workshop will use diverse frameworks (organizational, student success, and assessment) to facilitate a comprehensive discussion of the relevance, contributions, and challenges of establishing partnerships between two-year and four-year institutions. The workshop will be structured to enable a linear understanding of the "how-to" process of designing and implementing a partnership (from planning an agreement to assessing the program results). Examples of current successful partnerships will be presented. Attendees will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills through a four-phase case study challenge.

W-4 Planning for Student Transitions Across the Undergraduate Years
Saturday, October 19, 2013 <> 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m <> $245

Betsy O. Barefoot, Fellow, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition - University of South Carolina; Vice President and Senior Scholar - John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education

John N. Gardner, Senior Fellow, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition - University of South Carolina; President - John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education

In this workshop, both two-year and four-year participants will be introduced to a comprehensive range of strategies for improving the success of students throughout their college or university experience. Presenters will guide participants in an evaluation of their current institutional transition programs and in the creation of a draft action plan to improve student success, retention, and progression in one or more critical transition periods-first year, sophomore, transfer, and senior (if applicable). Participants will have an opportunity to share their planning drafts and receive feedback from the facilitators and other attendees. Institutional teams are encouraged, but individual participants are also welcome.

W-5 Creating Transfer Student Pathways
Saturday, October 19, 2013 <> 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm <> $135

Janet L. Marling, Executive Director - National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students

Mark Allen Poisel, Associate Provost for Student Success - Pace University

Each year, increasing numbers of students are intentionally choosing to attend more than one institution to earn their bachelor's degree. With these students in mind, administrators are looking to enhance the opportunities and pathways for student success by developing programs and services that will help students succeed. All institutions can benefit by their ability to understand the trends and exemplary practices that will allow them to reach their goals for the transfer population on their campuses. Join us as we discuss the details of creating effective policies, programs, and services that will impact the campus community.

W-6 Transitioning Students into Globally Competent Citizens: Strategies for the First Two Years
Saturday, October 19, 2013 <> 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm <> $135

Chris Caplinger, Director of the First-Year Experience - Georgia Southern University

Elliott-Gower, Director of the Honors Program, Associate Professor of Political Science - Georgia College

Keisha L. Hoerrner, Associate Dean in University College - Kennesaw State University

Ralph J. Rascati, Professor of Biology; Associate Vice President for Advising, Retention and Graduation Initiatives; Dean of University College - Kennesaw State University

While many institutions extol the importance of global learning, curricular and cocurricular initiatives designed to promote it tend to target juniors and seniors. Three institutions-a research university, a comprehensive state university, and a liberal arts college-have successfully developed initiatives that focus specifically on first- and second-year students. Participants will be introduced to strategies that promote global competency from a student's first week on campus through the sophomore year. Resources will be provided to develop courses, enhance cocurricular learning, and devise assessment tools. Participants will also develop an action plan to help them implement at least one initiative.